About the Church
The church of the Transfiguration of Christ at Griškabūdis stands in the small town of Griškabūdis, about 14 km south-east of Šakiai, and is a true pearl of Lithuanian architecture – the only octagonal-plan wooden house of prayer in Classicist forms in the country.
The first wooden church here was raised in 1742–1743 with funds from Teklė Vyšniaveckienė; it was consecrated in 1743 by Bishop Antanas Tiškevičius. The present church was built in 1792–1796 by the Carmelites to a design by the architect Juozapas Vališauskas, with financial support from the Jurbarkas elder Ignas Potockis. In 1800 the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Vygriai, Mykolas Pranciškus Karpavičius.
Although the Carmelite monastery was closed in 1805, parish life did not fade: in 1906 a branch of the “Žiburys” society was established, later followed by a library. During the First World War the bell tower was destroyed, and in 1933 a reinforced-concrete one was built to a design by Antanas Bistrickas. The interior of the church is adorned with wall paintings, and the church itself is regarded as a unique example of wooden sacred architecture.
The first wooden church here was raised in 1742–1743 with funds from Teklė Vyšniaveckienė; it was consecrated in 1743 by Bishop Antanas Tiškevičius. The present church was built in 1792–1796 by the Carmelites to a design by the architect Juozapas Vališauskas, with financial support from the Jurbarkas elder Ignas Potockis. In 1800 the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Vygriai, Mykolas Pranciškus Karpavičius.
Although the Carmelite monastery was closed in 1805, parish life did not fade: in 1906 a branch of the “Žiburys” society was established, later followed by a library. During the First World War the bell tower was destroyed, and in 1933 a reinforced-concrete one was built to a design by Antanas Bistrickas. The interior of the church is adorned with wall paintings, and the church itself is regarded as a unique example of wooden sacred architecture.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Atvirukas, nespalvotas. Kairėje pusėje pavaizduota Griškabūdžio Kristaus Atsimainymo bažnyčios varpinė – koplyčia. Dešinėje – bažnyčioje klebonavęs kunigas Juozas Vaičaitis (1881-1961). Kitoje atviruko pusėje – nedidelė fotografija, vaizduojanti pačią Griškabūdžio bažnyčią.